Look After You | Colby Brock

Forgiveness

My head is pounding when I'm awoken by the curtains opening within our dorm as Rose energetically awakes. "Morning" I croak, leaning up on my elbows to view more of the room. "Hey" She chirps and I clear my throat, reaching into my bedside cabinet for some pain relief, popping them with my water.

I lay in my bed for a while as Rose leaves the room to shower and finally decide to get up when she returns. I take a seat at my desk and begin brushing out my hair before my phone ringtone surrounds the room. "Oh" I automatically assume it's my parents as I haven't really been in contact with them, something I need to work on. But the name flashing across the screen takes me aback. Colby.

I pick up, "Hello." I say quietly, Colby clears his throat before speaking "Good Morning. I didn't uh want to wake you but I checked your schedule and found out you don't have a morning class" I continue brushing out my hair as I listen to him, "Yep. I don't" I answer, "Cool. Do you want to uh, meet up? I owe you an explanation and I feel really bad about y'know..hitting you in the face. Plus, your project" I look in the mirror at Rose who is standing behind me listening to him, she nods excitedly but I frown, shaking my head back to her. She shoots me a stern look, "Sure, pick me up in 15?" I ask and I can hear the smile on Colby's voice, "See you then." and with that the call ends.

"You were about to say no!" Rose exclaims, shocked. I roll my eyes, "Are we forgetting the nasty things he said to me? He told me we should stay away with one another and now he wants to meet up and what? Be my client?! Rose he's playing mind games." I sigh, rummaging through my drawers to find an outfit.

"Well, I think you'd be stupid not too investigate." She says, finishing off getting ready. "Maybe" I mutter, pulling off my comfy clothes and exchanging them for some jeans and a sweater, my favourite combo. I leave my hair down and slap on a bit of mascara and lip balm before grabbing my phone and keys.

The knock at the door sends butterflies through my stomach, I glance at Rose who sends me a motivational smile. "Hello" I say as I leave the dorm and walk into the halls with Colby. He's dressed in a yellow hoodie today with his usual black jeans, but his hair is pushed back and he actually looks very handsome.

"Well Mr Brock. You owe me an explanation" I tease, leading the way out of the dorms. He smiles, "I know. I'm sorry" he says and I shake my head, "No apologises until I know what the fuck is going through your head." I say, folding my arms and he sighs, looking away from me as he leads me to his car.

The smell of mint filling Colby's car comforts me. "I have a class after lunch remember" I tell him and he nods, "Me too" I look out the window, our classes always seem to align.

"Where are we going?" I ask as Colby pulls onto the highway after a few minutes of silence with the faint sound of the radio within the car. "I thought maybe it would be nice to take a drive up into the hills. Let you see the Hollywood sign." He tells me and I part my lips, "Oh yes!" I say excitedly.

"I hope you don't mind but I'm going to give my mum a call." "No problem" I smile at him before dialling my mums number. The phone rings longer than usual, maybe she is working away from home today. I frown, dialling my dads. He answers quickly, "Aliyah!" He chirps, I smile at the sound of his voice, "Hello Dad. I miss you! Where's mum I tried calling her?" The line goes quiet before my dad clears his throat, "She's uh, out running some errands. Just dropped the boys off at school." He tells me, I decide not to press further on the topic of my mother even though it is rather strange for her not to be home, or answer her phone quickly. "How are the boys?" I ask, he laughs, "Amazing as always. Missing you though." My heart sinks.

"I'll need to take a trip back up before thanksgiving dad. I miss you guys" He goes quiet again which makes me more concerned, "No, No honey. You need to focus on your studies. Everything here is fine." I go to further my comment but he cuts me off, "Plus Will and Frannie are visiting you at the weekend. I'll call you later honey, love you" He says, I return my love before he hangs up the phone. That was weird.

—

The sights from the hills are stunning. You can see most of Los Angeles and it really takes my breath away, I'm very lucky to have the opportunity to attend UCLA like my parents. Of course, they took the path of journalism and I chose the route of being dragged into the hills by fucked up boys.

I giggle at my thoughts, forgetting Colby's presence. "What's so funny huh?" He asks, leading the way to a picnic bench just past the Hollywood sign. "Sorry. Just thinking." I smile, taking a seat opposite of him.

The faint sounds of birds chirping and rustling of the wind hitting the greenery is all that fills the air for a while as the two of us think about what we have to say. He looks pretty nervous which I can't decide if it makes me nervous or actually is quite comforting. "I don't really want to be sat here and argue my way out of everything. I shouldn't have said those things to you and I can't take it back Aliyah..But I spoke to Sam and he's like my brother, I trust everything he says and he really made me realise that even if I can't have a relationship with you in the future. I lost a potential friend that I can open up to"

I stare into Colby's eyes as he speaks, taking every word in. He really seems like he means it, "Yeah. I get it Colby you have this paranoia that I'm going to run away telling people your issues and I'm not like that. When I kissed you, or you kissed me. Whatever that was," I pause and look into the distance, "You looked so relaxed. Like every problem disappeared. And I know you are going to think that's my big plan with every client." He sympathetically shakes his head, "But that's not the case. When I kissed you, I went weak. Vulnerable. I cared for you, and when you came to me and told me you didn't think we should speak to one another." I look back into his eyes. "I felt like I had lost someone that I have known my whole life."

My honesty makes me palms sweat and my heart beat quicken, but my thoughts have been swirling the past few days and it's now or never. "We haven't really known each other that long A, but there is no doubt that I care for you. I want to make something between us. I don't care if it's a relationship or strictly friendship. I just don't want to give up just yet. I have issues that I haven't even told Sam. My life isn't like yours, rainbows and butterflies. I've had a tough life." I nod slowly.

"Yeah...I forgive you. I don't want to lose something that could happen over a thing you might not be able to control, I want to help you. But I do need to know why Brennen told me that you bought that bulk load of weed because of me?" I laugh quietly after it, trying to keep the mood light. He just shakes his head, keeping the serious face. "Worrying is definitely something I need to work on. The weed helps and I just got really pissed off at you. Even though I ended things before they even happened." He chuckles, "But I didn't pay him because he's an asshole." He shrugs and I decide not to further the questions on him.

"Okay." I watch him as he places his hands onto the table. "So, where do we begin with my fucked up life." He sighs and I smile sympathetically.

"Well, my dad wasn't always around. Let's just say, he had a few tough friends. Lawyers can be a bit fucked up." I nod, leaning forward as the little boy with all the problems began to open up and tell me everything.